Jeff Porcaro

Rock Musician

Born: 1 April 1954

Died: 5 August 1992 (heart attack)

Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut

Best known as: Founder of the group Toto

Jeff Porcaro was one of the top studio drummers in pop music during the 1970s and 1980s. While still a teenager he began playing with Sonny and Cher, and during the next two decades he played behind acts ranging from Barbra Streisand to Warren Zevon. Porcaro played with Steely Dan on Pretzel Logic (1974), with Boz Scaggs on Silk Degrees (1976) and with Michael Jackson on Thriller (1982). He co-founded the band Toto, which recorded hits like "Hold the Line" (from Toto, 1978) and "Rosanna" (from Toto IV, 1982). Porcaro's 1992 death from a heart attack has been the subject of controversy: some sources say the attack was caused by an allergic reaction to garden pesticide, while others say Porcaro's heart was weakened by cocaine use.

Extra credit: Two of Porcaro's brothers played with Toto: Steve Porcaro on keyboards, and Mike Porcaro on bass... His father Joe Porcaro also was a drummer... It's true: the hit "Rosanna" was a tribute to Steve Porcaro's girlfriend, actress Rosanna Arquette... Toto is also the name of Judy Garland's dog in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.